How to get from Lombok to Nusa Penida

Why visit Nusa Penida?

Kelingking Beach is one of the most iconic sites not just in Nusa Penida but in the whole of Indonesia. The distinctive T-rex-shaped cliffs have become an iconic backdrop for many travellers’ photos and a place to witness some of Mother Nature’s finest work.

Beyond this tourist hotspot, Nusa Penida’s underwater world leaves little to be desired. It’s a paradise for snorkelers and divers. Prefer to stay on land? The beaches will leave you in awe with their golden sands that run off into brilliantly turquoise waters.

There are 2 ways to travel the 86 kilometers (53 miles) from Lombok to Nusa Penida. You can choose between the direct ferry and indirect ferry. The journey takes 1 hour 20 minutes to 5 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by indirect ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by direct ferry with tickets starting at 229,000 IDR ($13.70).

Booking a direct ferry ticket is the most convenient way to travel from Lombok to Nusa Penida. The total ferry ride takes 2-3 hours with ticket prices starting from 229,000 IDR ($13.70).

Most ferries make a short stop in Bali before continuing to Nusa Penida. The last time we checked (July 2023), only Idola Express and Semaya One operate directly from Lombok to Nusa Penida. But if your ferry does make a stopover in Bali, you can just stay on the boat.

Besides the common (fast) ferries, there is also the “KMP Nusa Jaya Abadi” ferry which is a direct roll-on, roll-off ferry from Lombok to Nusa Penida. It’s a slow ferry used by people with vehicles and locals travelling with goods. However, we don’t recommend this slow ferry for the regular traveller because of its inconsistent schedule and longer travel time.

Short stop in Bali before continuing to Nusa Penida

Even though it’s called a “direct ferry,” most ferries actually make a stop in Padang Bai in Bali. Luckily, you can just stay on the boat while some passengers disembark and new travellers from Bali board the ferry.

After this stop, there should be only 30 minutes left of the journey to Nusa Penida. The total travel time from Lombok to Nusa Penida is 1 hour 30 minutes to 3 hours and tickets for this combined journey start from 229,000 IDR ($13.70).

Departure times from Lombok to Nusa Penida are between 12:30 and 13:30.

From Lombok’s Bangsal Pier, most fast boats make a quick stop on the nearby islands of Gili Air and Gili Trawangan to collect passengers before crossing the rough waters to Bali or Nusa Penida.

Take a bigger ferry if you’re prone to motion sickness

We recommend travelling with Eka Jaya if you easily get seasick. Eka Jaya operates larger boats that make the rough seas between Lombok and Nusa Penida more bearable.

It’s worth noting, that these large ferries are slower than the regular fast boats operating on this route. But if you’re not in a hurry and prefer comfort over speed, then Eka Jaya is a great choice.

Travel time from Lombok to Nusa Penida with Eka Jaya takes around 5 hours. A ferry ticket costs 580,000 IDR ($35).

Departure ports in Lombok

Ferries depart from the two main piers in Lombok: Bangsal Pier and Senggigi Pier. Both ports are on the island’s west coast, but Senggigi Pier is more centrally located.

Bangsal Pier is in the northwest part of Lombok and is closer to the Gili Islands. From Senggigi, it’s a 30-40 minute drive up north to Bangsal Pier. From Kuta, Lombok, it’s about a 2-hour drive north. Jump to this section to find out how to get to Bangsal Pier.

Senggigi Ferry Terminal is more accessible if you are staying in Senggigi (Rinjani basecamp) or the most popular part of Lombok, Kuta, in the southern part of the island.

Arrival ports in Nusa Penida

In Nusa Penida, there are several piers, all located on the island’s northern coast.

The largest pier is Buyuk Harbour on the northeast, where Semaya One, Caspla Bali Sea View, Invinia Fast Boat, and Wijaya Buyuk arrive.

Starfish and Golden Queen fast boats arrive at Banjar Nyuh Harbour on the northwest coast.

These two harbours are a 20-minute drive away from each other. Taxi fares between these harbours start from 150,000 IDR ($9).

Eka Jaya Fast Boat docks at Toya Pakeh Harbour, just 750m south of Banjar Nyuh.

Bangsal Pier

Speedboat

Nusa Penida

13:30

2h

15:30

Starfish Fast Cruise

From 243,000 IDR ($14.50)

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• 24/7 customer support

243,000 IDR ($14.50)

13:30

2h

15:30

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250,000 IDR ($14.90)

13:30

2h

15:30

Check on 12GoAsia

Bangsal Ferry Terminal

High Speed

FUNTASEA Resto & Bar

13:30

3h

16:30

Wanderlust Fast Cruise

250,000 IDR ($14.90)

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250,000 IDR ($14.90)

13:30

3h

16:30

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• 24/7 customer support

289,000 IDR ($17.30)

13:30

3h

16:30

Check on BookAway

Bangsal Pier

Speedboat

Buyuk Harbor

13:25

1h 45m

15:10

13:30

1h 45m

15:15

Wijaya Buyuk

250,000 IDR ($14.90)

Compare prices

250,000 IDR ($14.90)

13:25

1h 45m

15:10

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• 24/7 customer support

294,000 IDR ($17.60)

13:25

1h 45m

15:10

13:30

1h 45m

15:15

Check on BookAway

If the direct ferries are fully booked, you can still take an indirect one. With this ferry, you must get off the boat in Bali and take another ferry to Nusa Penida. It’s also more expensive than buying a direct ticket.

Combined rates start from 540,000 IDR ($32) for ferries with a transfer in Padang Bai and 425,000 IDR ($25) for fast boats via Sanur.

Total travel time with the indirect ferry is 2.5-4 hours, but this doesn’t include the waiting time between the ferry trips.

Via Padang Bai or Sanur?

From Lombok, you can either take the ferry to Padang Bai or Sanur. We recommend taking the ferry to Padang Bai because this is the closest harbour to Lombok. This ferry ride takes only about 1.5 hours. Just note that you need to take any of the earliest trips to make it in time for the connecting ferry that departs at 15:30.

From Sanur, there are more departures to Nusa Penida, but the problem here is that all ferries from Lombok to Sanur depart in the afternoon. The earliest ferry arrives in Sanur at 16:15 (if there is no delay) and the latest ferry from Sanur to Nusa Penida departs at 17:00.

If there is any delay, you can miss the connecting ferry and will have to spend the night in Bali.

When the ferry schedules don’t match, you can also take a taxi from Padang Bai to Sanur. This gives you the most departure options from Lombok to Bali and the most departure times from Bali to Nusa Penida.

Via Serangan Pier

Note that there are also two afternoon ferry trips from Lombok to Serangan Pier in Bali, but the connecting ferries from Serangan to Nusa Penida depart in the early morning. This means you’ll have to stay the night in Bali when travelling via Serangan.

Below, you’ll find the ferry schedules from Lombok to Padang Bai and Sanur. We recommend booking a ferry with at least 1.5 hours between the arrival from Lombok to Bali and the departure to Nusa Penida.

Almost all ferries from Lombok to Bali depart from Bangsal Pier in north Lombok. (Jump to this section to find out how to get to Bangsal Pier)

The only exception is the ferry departing from Senggigi to Bali at 13:30, operated by Eka Jaya. Senggigi Port is more convenient for most travellers staying in Lombok.

Bangsal Warung Sasak

Speedboat

Padang Bai Ganggari

13:00

1h 30m

14:30

Ganggari Fast Boat

From 229,000 IDR ($13.70)

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• 24/7 customer support

229,000 IDR ($13.70)

13:00

1h 30m

14:30

Check on BookAway

234,000 IDR ($14)

13:00

1h 30m

14:30

Check on 12GoAsia

Bangsal Indah

Speedboat

McDonalds Sanur

09:15

5h

14:15

12:15

4h 15m

16:30

Karunia Perkasa Transfers

From 325,000 IDR ($19.40)

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• 24/7 customer support

325,000 IDR ($19.40)

12:15

4h 15m

16:30

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

360,000 IDR ($22)

09:15

5h

14:15

Check on BookAway

Bangsal Pier

Speedboat

Sanur Beach Port

13:15

3h 15m

16:30

13:20

3h 15m

16:35

13:30

3h 15m

16:45

Wijaya Buyuk

350,000 IDR ($21)

Compare prices

350,000 IDR ($21)

13:30

3h 15m

16:45

Check on 12GoAsia

• 24/7 customer support

427,000 IDR ($26)

13:15

3h 15m

16:30

13:20

3h 15m

16:35

Check on BookAway

While most ferries from Lombok to Bali arrive at Padang Bai, only one ferry company operates from Padang Bai to Nusa Penida. Travel time is about 30 minutes from this port.

You have more choices if you take a ferry to Sanur Port. From this port, Nusa Penida is just 30-45 minutes away.

Ferry tickets from Bali to Nusa Penida start from 110,000 IDR ($6.60).